Mind Mapping in Your Bullet Journal

2020 has many people feeling a lack of control over their lives. Overwhelm and adjusting to a "new normal" has many of us struggling in the executive functioning department. While we might not have a lot of events and appointments to document in our bullet journals, we can use our notebooks to guide us through these confusing times. 

Mind maps are a great way to get cognitive clarity. They are used to visually organize information and the relationships between concepts. They serve as a mind sweep and a path of action. 

So grab your bujo and a pen and let's create some clarity out of chaos. 
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Step 1: Choose a Focus

Your mind map will be about one large concept. Think about the thing that will give you the most mental relief or the thing that is bothering you the most. Draw a circle in the middle of your page and write that concept in the circle.

​Usually if you create a plan of action about that thing, your path to peace of mind becomes more clear. I needed to make headway on a few household projects that were feeling like a whack a mole game, so that's what I chose.

Step 2: Pick 3 or 4 Key Areas of Action

Next, break down your primary concept into three or four key areas of action. In my case, I choose to focus on four projects that are hanging over my head: creating a better office space for me and my husband, completing a few bathroom repairs, sewing new masks for my family and making our living room more of a sanctuary. 

Draw lines from your center main focus to your four key concepts to document these areas of action.
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Step 3: Action Steps

Finally, take some time to brain dump all of the steps that each area of action requires. Again - draw radiating lines and bubbles from the area of action to each separate step that will add up to completion. 

Step 4: Work the Plan

There's nothing to it but to do it. Work one key area at a time to completion.  Resist the urge to pop all over and complete things here and there. (I speak from much experience here.) You will feel so much better once you start working and completing tasks that add up to a bigger goal. If you feel good about something, you are much more apt to continue working it. 

Now go get it!!

We would love for you to share your mind maps with us in our bullet journaling FB group called Bullet Journaling Tips and Tricks. We host a group of 26,000 kind, supportive and inspiring bullet journalists over there.